Very Disappointed with our trip!!

[Sher]

Hi Melinda,

I just wanted to say that I think you should definitely write a letter of complaint. It's pretty clear that you do not feel you got a good value for your money and Disney should want to know that. While you might have made a mistake in the plan you chose, there is no excuse for poor service. If the cast members can't give out correct information, they shouldn't be working there.

Personally, we stay at the All-Stars, buy park hoppers seperately and have always had a great experience. Understandably, you had very high expectations for such an expensive trip. I think those of us who truly love Disney can get a little defensive when we hear criticism. I hope you are not overly offended by the harsh comments.

Good Luck to you.

Sherry

 

[RANdisNEY]

We went to WDW on the Grand Plan in Nov. 1988, very soon after the program was introduced and the Grand Floridian opened. (I know, ancient history.) Our children were young – 3 and 6 – and their part of the cost of the program was very inexpensive in comparison to adults or older children. I had pre-booked every dining show (Hoop de doo, Broadway at the Top, Luau), we ate a character breakfast every morning, we booked all the nicest, most expensive restaurants and didn’t have a bit of fast food all week. We were eating three huge meals a day with multiple courses and the children almost always ordered adult entrees including lobster at Narcossees, etc. We went to Victoria & Albert’s twice. We took advantage of the childcare programs at the resorts and the in room baby-sitting, which was also included in the plan at the time. We did the water sprites many days. By the end of week we had managed to bill $800.00 more than the Plan had cost, but that was only 20% above our cost.

I watched the all-inclusive plans evolve over the next several years and saw prices increase while perks disappeared or were changed. I often wondered if they “studied” my billings that week to avoid a repeat of their “loss”. (I know, it is unlikely that Disney actually lost any money on the deal).

After our experience, I never again considered doing another all-inclusive plan. For one thing, who wants to eat that way once you leave your 20’s behind? Instead, we just order what we want off the menu, knowing we are “saving” money.

I have recommended a plan under one circumstance. I’ve known families where one of the spouses gets so stressed out by a week of many, many financial decisions (You want steak???? How about some chicken instead? You want to go WHERE?? Did you see those prices!!!) that by paying for a package in full ahead of time everyone gets to relax and enjoy the vacation.

To repeat one of my favorite lines from this board, Disney is a life skill. Melinda, I’m truly sorry for your experience, but I hope that some day you give the magic another chance.

 

[GoldenPrincess]

One of the things I love best about Disney is that no matter where I stay or how much my trip cost I am ALWAYS treated with the same respect and courtesy. I am a guest at their park/resort/restaurant/whatever, and I am made welcome. Maybe the amenities at my resort are more plush than somewhere else, but I am treated the same. And, we have stayed at most of the moderates and many of the deluxe resorts.

It sounds as if you made a choice to leave rather than wait to find out what would have happened. I'm sure that if your flight had been cancelled then Disney would have given you another night. They had already stated that. And, if the weather were as treacherous as it sounds (you wouldn't have gotten me in a car in that kind of storm!), then I'm sure your flight would have been cancelled. It sound as if they did try to accommodate you, and you chose a different route.

Did any of your paperwork that came with that very expensive package you purchased state that you'd be entitled to a free night in case of weather, or airline cancellations, etc? If so, then you have a valid complaint. If not, then based on your report you were treated as any other paying guest at the resort. Just because one guest paid more doesn't entitle them to be treated differently than the other guests. It has been my experience that Disney just doesn't work like that.

I would suggest writing, though. You never know--they may come up with that free night after all.

 

[belu]

I'm very sorry to hear your trip turned out so horrible. I've had other friends return from WDW with negitive comments. This just kills me because I know what a wonderful experiance it could have been.

My first trip to WDW as an adult was horrible. I started my trip like many do, by calling WDW Travel Co. You're right to a degree, they will take your money without even advising you to buy a guide book or about priority seating. We ended up going when it was very crowded and felt left out of all of the best resturants and activities. My next trip was different, I used boards like these to come up with stratagies and now many trips later, I consider myself well informed. It is true most of the regulars on this board know more than a majority of WDW cast members including concierge staff.

This is one of the reasons I started my own business. I'm an outside Travel Agent I sell only Disney. I only recommend the Grand Plan and Deluxe Plan for a very small group of my clients. I wish I had spoke to you sooner. My advice to you, should you give it another go, is to find a travel agent who is a graduate of the Disney College of Knowlege and who will assist you in Itenerary planning. Even if you want to do your own planning, an agent who offers this service is more likley to know Disney. I have had clients run into stumbling blocks while at Disney. When this happened they called me immediately and I was able to turn things around before the vacation ended.

Remember, if you call WDW Travel direct the person manning the phone makes hourly pay and has no vested interest in your trip. When you use a Travel Agent they make a commission and you are entitled to quality service and not just from the moment you leave for vacation.

Again, I am so sorry your trip was a dissappointment. Don't give up, try again.

 

[dan-tot]

I am truly sorry that you had a bad time. Disney is suspose to mean pixy dust not bottom line. I had trouble with disney 2 years ago about companion bathrooms. It seemed that no but two cast members knew where they were. When I got back I wrote a letter to disney about it. I got a reply but it seemed that it was form letter sounding, it was almost like telling me don't call us we'll call you in a sense. In 1983 I bought the deluxe package because I wanted everything taken care of for my family since it was their first trip to WDW. This was when they still had coupons (e-tickets) for rides. So we got credit cards that we showed this got us in and on the rides it was like a fore runner to flex pass. We got three meals aday which were ALL sitdowns not fast food. My family like the morning meals but not going to a sitdown in the lunch time so I lost that meal every day we were there. Everything else was ok but I still lost out. I think I would have insisted on seeing the manager of the Poly I would of asked to see some one until I got what I wanted. I would send the letter but don't expect to much but DO tell them what you spent and on what. I hope this helps alittle.

Dan

 

[NancyIL]

Melinda, I'm sorry that your trip was very disappointing. There was certainly no way anyone could've predicted the events of Sept. 11 or the nasty weather in Florida. The two combined understandably would have a negative effect on anyone's vacation.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! It is easy for those of us who have been on the DIS for any length of time to wonder why someone would book the resort package Melinda did. In case you didn't notice, she is a new poster to the DIS. She DID learn from this experience what NOT to do on a future trip, and she doesn't need to be beaten over the head about it! Most of us have learned valuable information on the DIS because others have shared what DIDN'T work for them!

Melinda, I hope you will give WDW another chance down the road.

 

[stlrod]

I don't mean to be rude (having recently been slapped around on the Community Board) but I am somewhat suspect of the claim that this was a $12,000 package. I just priced the Deluxe Magic out for 3 adults (w/ Lagoon view at Poly for 7 days, air from Toledo and limo transfers) and the total was $8,440.75. Perhaps the Deluxe magic doesn't include the Meal Plans. Or perhaps it's the "suite" part.

 

[stlrod]

It did include meals, Cirque tickets and of course, pins. Pretty expensive pins.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Wow! We are going on my 21st trip in October and I've never had a bad time at WDW!

However, I have never done any of their packages nor will ever travel to FLA in September. We did once with friends (friends no more) and it rained nearly every day sometimes all day! And if it didn't rain, you wished it did with the humidity. Yuck.

People we know just came back from Sept 3-14 trip. They said it was sweltering hot and had some rain. However, been checking the DIS weather and found out they lied. It rained every day.

Oh, well, November is great WDW weather. Hope you reconsider...

 

[PKS44]

Melinda had a bad trip, she mistakenly put her faith in Disney, she has taken a beating here in good humor, but it is evident from her posts that she really did not learn from it. In her first post she suggests not booking the Deluxe Plan, but the one the level below that...this is the blind leading the blind She should have learned to not trust Disney and their packages...Then in her long follow up she fleshes out the details of her complaints which demonstrate apparently bad service frm CMs, true, but nothing to justify her demands for free room. The fact that she thinks her story did justify a free room indicates that she has not learned from the other posters here. If service is bad-complain AT THE TIME, not later. But not giving her a free room was not bad service, it was reasonable and from the tone of her posts it sounds like she was not...Now maybe Melinda is right and EVERYONE else on this thread is wrong, but that is not usually the way things work.

 

[snuggles]

I think this has gone on long enough. I am locking this post.